Though Vanilla Cafe & Bar had been around for a while, I haven’t gotten a try of the food till recently. If I knew that its food was of such a good standard, I would have made my way down much earlier. The interior is simple and it is rather quiet on the weekends, making the perfect place for a quiet meal.

LOOK & FEEL

The design of the interior is straightforward and plain.

It’s a pity that the Telok Ayer area is rather quiet on the weekends since the working crowd will never set foot into this area on their off days. In fact, there are numerous good cafes in the area that are not so well known to the cafe bunch and definitely worth a visit.

FOOD & DRINKS

The drinks here are rather average, if not underwhelming.

We agreed that the Matcha Latte was not thick enough and it tasted more of milk than green tea.

Same went for the Vanilla Latte, which was mild and did not have much of a coffee kick, but thankfully it wasn’t too sweet, which is usually what kills a Vanilla Latte.

Fortunately, the food was amazing beyond words.

The Half Wings were home-marinated, very tasty without being overly salty. The crispiness was just right too.

The star dish of the day would have to be the Cordon Bleu, which is cheese and ham wrapped in fried chicken cutlet. It was perfectly fried to a refreshing crisp, and the salty fragrance of the ham emerged as it was cut. The tender meat, delicious ham and melted cheese were an impeccable match.

The Vodka & Tomato Creme Penne was another impressionable dish on the table. I was expecting a bizarre, sharp tasting pasta but the vodka taste was faint or almost undetectable. The tomato cream was light tasting and refreshing at every bite.

The Tom Yam Seafood Risotto was another crowd pleaser. Since the Tom Yam flavour was not overpowering, this dish was indeed a comfort to eat. The risotto was concocted to the perfect flavour, texture and moistness.

The Lobster and Linguine Arrabiata was a little disappointing, given the standard of the rest. The lobster, though in a rather fleshy portion given its price, was slightly overcooked and dry. Since I’m not a fan of fishy taste, I almost couldn’t stand the waves of seafood smell from the roe. The pasta would also have been better done with more moisture and sauce.

Now to the desserts, half the pictures hashtagged #vanillabarandcafe was that of the Vanilla Dirt Cake. Since this is their signature dessert, we had to order it. No doubts about its amazing presentation, all of us were almost fooled that it was a real flower pot. That raised the expectations, but the honest verdict would be that it looked better than it tasted. The cream layer was hard and frozen, with a few icy bits. The cookie crumbs did not create magic with the cream, and it was too bland to be an after-meal sweet.

The Durian Creme Brulee was a different story, fortunately. It didn’t have the overpowering “fragrance” of a durian, and carried the sweetness and taste in its custard layer. The caramel layer was also burnt to a perfect crisp. Though slightly pricey, I would recommend this as it is more worth the penny.

IN A NUTSHELL

Vanilla Bar and Cafe would make a sweet dining spot for the working crowd in the area and would be one of the more ambient cafes for chill out on weekday nights. The menu is rather extensive and would spoil you for choice, and the Special Menu would be something we’d always look forward to. During the quieter afternoon hours, you might also find it conducive for working on the laptop or reading, though they are still in the midst of setting up the wifi. Remember, do not leave this cafe without trying the Cordon Bleu!

Located in the popular Haji Lane area, Working Title is a humble setup with an indie vibe. The interior is edgy and rustic, and also extremely relaxing in the afternoon. They have an extensive menu here as well as a wide selection of craft beer. You probably didn’t know that they also run a traveller’s lodge in the 5-storey shophouse with a very cool rooftop as well.

LOOK & FEEL

After setting up the bed and breakfast on the upper levels for half a year, the owners decided to take over the first level and set up a cafe on their own. They only had a month to put everything together and in that rush, the working title remained as “working title”. It is quite impressive how they pulled this feat all within a month, but now they have grown confident of their offerings, dishing out new and bold creations lately.

To keep costs low, the furniture were collected from preloved stores and some were also hand made from wooden planks. This resulted in the eclectic mix of tables and chairs.

Though it isn’t Halal certified on paper, the food preparation and sources of supplies are all good for Muslims to consume. Drinks wise, though alcohol is sold here, they are all in bottled forms and none of their other food and drinks are mixed with alcohol.

For a brighter environment, the courtyard with natural light and comfy chairs is also available at the back.

There’s also wifi and powerpoint if you are looking for a place to work on your laptop too.

FOOD & DRINKS

To start off the meal, I had a Cafe Latte. The coffee here was slightly more roasty with heavier body, with hints of bitterness that didn’t linger. However after it turned cold, the bitterness was a lot stronger and more distinct, which can be a little unpleasant to those who prefer more balanced coffee.

My favourite kind of food has to be Big Breakfast sets. The all-day brunch item was a very generous serving of sunny side up, sausage, turkey ham, toasted muffins, hashbrown nuggets and salad. The mix of everything sent me to heaven by the mouthfuls. They had done a really good job with this otherwise common dish.

We also had the Chilli Crab Mussles which came in a generous portion for sharing. As expected, the sauce was delicious, very “shiok” and could get really spicy. The crispy toasts were perfect for dips and the mussels were also fresh and not fishy.

Truffle fries was quite the average, but I liked that they used thicker fries which was crispy yet with great texture.

To end off the filling meal, we ordered a Toasted Marshmallow Ice cream sandwich. For this size it was a little pricey but at least it was a happiness-creating food. We made the right choice as the sweetness of the ice cream was just nice and the butterscotch cookies had an interesting chewiness to it.

IN A NUTSHELL

Overall, we were impressed by the food we had tried. The interior was nothing too fancy, but had somehow come together to form a very harmonious indie vibe. No surprise about its popularity especially with the lunch and dinner crowds, for it has such delicious and interesting dishes on the menu. Would definitely come back again to try their wide variety of food next time.

Opened for merely a year or more, Rokeby has became a popular cafe bistro in Lorong Chuan, with regulars from the neighbourhood and cafehoppers who travel far and out for its delicous food. They have continuously worked to improve on their food, coffee and store layout, and has maintained a good consistency, bringing diners back time and again.

LOOK & FEEL

Having stayed in Australia for some years, the cafe owners have tried to instil a sense of familiarity with a laid back and woody style in their cafe interior. Even the name “Rokeby” was adapted from a town in Australia.

This place is strictly for meals as it is usually crowded during meal times, especially on the weekends. They do not have wifi and power points for laptops as well, so enjoy Rokeby for its food and coffee.

FOOD & DRINKS

I really liked this cup of Cafe Latte. The aroma was really good, and the complex taste gave a very interesting experience. Some fruity taste, as well as a mix of sweetness and bitterness emerged as it rolled on the tongue. There was a slight tint of bitterness in the after taste.

The Waffles were really crispy and fluffy too. The waffles were delicious enough with just the maple syrup. The bacon and sausage did not go hand in hand with the waffles, but were yummy sides on its own. If you are undecided on a savoury or sweet dish for your meal, you could have both with this item.

The Rokeby Full Monty Brekkie was really wholesome. All the individual ingredients were delicious and perfectly cooked. The scrambled eggs were really fragrant and tasty, and the moisture was retained without it being too runny. The entire dish was really satisfying and filling.

IN A NUTSHELL

I could find no complaints with the food served at Rokeby and I would definitely recommend it for your brunch hunts. The simple and laidback interior provides a relaxing ambience for enjoyment of hearty meals with friends and family. I would recommend you to have a try of the coffee here as I personally liked the complexity and balance in the taste.